Penn Study Shows Two-Sided Immune Cell Could be Harnessed to Shrink Tumors
Researchers have discovered how a stimulatory molecule and a protein found on the membrane of another immune cell make T helper 17 cells multi-taskers of sorts. [Press release from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine]

Macrophage Protein Has Major Role in Inflammation
Researchers have discovered that a multi-tasking protein FoxO1 has another important but previously unknown function: It directly interacts with macrophages, promoting an inflammatory response that can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. [Press release from the University of California, San Diego discussing online prepublication in The EMBO Journal]

NIH Scientists Discover Secrets of Helper T Cells Involved in Autoimmunity
Scientists have redefined the roles of several cytokines involved in the generation of immune cells implicated in severe autoimmune diseases. The study in mice showed that development of T helper 17 (Th17) immune cells can occur without the presence of transforming growth factor-beta, a mediator thought to be required for Th17 cell development. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in Nature]

The Inducible Costimulator (ICOS) Is Critical for the Development of Human Th17 Cells
The findings reveal a vital role for ICOS signaling in the generation and maintenance of human Th17 cells and suggest that components of this pathway could be therapeutically targeted to treat cancer or chronic infection and, conversely, that interruption of this pathway may have utility in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune syndromes. [Sci Transl Med]

Karyopharm Lands $20 Million in Series A
Karyopharm Therapeutics has completed a $20 million Series A round of financing with the help of unidentified backers, according to a company press release. [FierceBiotech]